Apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing-plate.



G. R. CORNWALL.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INK TO THE SURFACE OF A PRINTiNG PLATE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15,1910. RENEWED OCT. 7.1915.

1,181,645. Patented May 2,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lfwiw THE COLUMBIA A'LANOGRAPII co.. WASHINGTON, D. c

G. R. CORNWALL. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INK TO THE SURFACE OF A PRINTING PLATE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I5, 1910- RENEWED OCT- 7,1915- Patented May 2, 1916.

2 SllEETS-SHEET Z MPH" THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. (L

GEORGE R. CORNWALL, OF RYE, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING INK TO THE SURFACE OF A PRINTING-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Application filed. June 15, 1919, Serial No. 567,053. Renewed October 7, 1915. Serial No. 54,692.

devices for on planographlc secure a uniform distribution of the ink over the surface of the printing plate; to

provide for a careful and thorough working in of the ink into the design; to eifect these objects rapidly and with a minimum of time and of skill and exertion on the part of the operator; to provide novel and effective power driven ink applying means, and to provide power driven means for the initial distributing of the ink and also for applying the ink to the surface of the printing plate. These and other objects of invention will in part be obvious and will in part more full appear herein.

The invention consists in the novel parts, articles, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illusink to the surface of the printing plate;

Fig. 2 is a view of the ink applying pad and the handle attached thereto; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, corresponding to the lower part of Fig. 2; Fig. 4

shows the connection between the driving motor and the ink applying means; Fig. 5 is a side elevation looking at Fig. 4 from the right; and Fig. 6 is a top plan of the lower part of Fig. 4 from the joint in the casing.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention, a support or table 1 is shown carrying thereon an ink slab 2. Contiguous thereto is shown a support 3 for the printing plate 4.

The ink applying means shown herein comprises a pad-head or support 10, having a shank 11, passing through the handle or hand piece 12, and being mounted to freely rotate within the hand piece 12, and connecting to the flexible shaft 13. The head 10 may be of metal or other rigid substance, and may be of circular form and may also have its operating face convexly curved. Upon the operating face of the head 10 is shown a. resilient pad 14 of felt or other suitable material which may be attached to the head 10 in any suitable way, as by an adhesive, or by stitches 15 passing through the layer 14 and through apertures in the head 10. An outer covering 16, constituting the ink applying surface of the pad, of chamois, or other suitable material, may be folded about the head 10 and the layer L4 and may then be gathered together at the center of the back surface of the head 10. A knurled clamping nut 17 is shown threaded on the threaded exterior of the shank 11 (see Fig. 3) and may be screwed down upon the gathered in ends of the covering 16, as shown in Fig. 2, to hold it firmly in position.

The flexible shaft 13 is given a rotatory motion by suitable means, the form thereof herein shown comprising a short shaft 20 journaled in a casing 21. The shaft 20 is shown horizontally arranged, and projecting from the inclosed casing 21 and being coupled at one end 22 to the shaft 13. Mounted upon the shaft 20, to rotate therewith is shown a worm wheel 23 and mounted above the shaft 20 in the casing 21 is shown a worm 24 carried upon a shaft 25 of an electric motor 26.

The casing 21 is shown divided horizontally into two parts. an upper part 30 and a lower part 31, dividing the casing horizontally through the journals 32 and 33 of the shaft 20. The two parts of the casing 21 may be held together in a suitable manner,

as by the clamping screws 34 and 35. The

= keep the worm 24 and its shaft thoroughly lubricated. This will serve to keep the parts cool, and to cause them to run easily at a high speed. The lower part of the casing 31 is shown formed into a pedestal 36. p

The motor and its driving mechanism are shown suitably mounted contiguous to the ink slab and to the plate support so that the rotating ink pad may be passed readily from one to the other in the work of distributing the ink upon the slab, transferring it to the plate, and applying it upon and working it into the surface of the printing plate. In the present embodiment the motor 26 and the casing 21, and their associated parts are shown mounted in the pan 40 which serves to catch all drippings, the pan 40 being placed upon asupport 41 carried by hangers a2 and 43. A suitable hook 44 is shown for hanging up the inking pad when not in use.

In using the invention, the handle 12 is grasped by the hand of the operator, the motor at the same time rotating the flexible sheet 13 and the inking pad-therewith. The

inking pad may be passed by movement of translation across the surface of the ink distributing slab 2, the inking pad at the same time having its own rotatory motion about its own axis, as just described. When the ink has been taken up by the; surface of the inking pad, said pad may be moved .iby the operator over to the printing plate 4, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and the pad then be rapidly moved over the face of the printing plate in a movement of translation bv the hand of the operator, the pad at the same time having its rotatory motion about its own shaft.

It will be understood-th at the inking pad has a movement entirely different from that of the inking pad as ordinarily used in the hands of the operator. Also in the case of this invention. the operator may give'his attention entirely to the degree ofpressure on contact whlch he deslres to exerclse upon the surface of the printing plate, and to moving the pad to and fro across the surface of the plate, or movingit from one point to another on the plate as may be found desirable or necessary. this time the pad has the rotatory motion about its own axis. causing a fine and uniform deposition of the ink from the face of the pad upon the plate. This conduces to nice and exact work both through the peculiar movement of the pad, and through the fact that the operator may devote his entire attention to position the pad both to get the right contact with: the plate and to locate the action upon the desired part of the plate.

It will be un derstoodthat certain changes may be made from the structure shown and described, within the scope of" the accom-,

During all 1. An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing plate including in combination an inking pad having a head and an ink' taking and an ink-impartingmember detachably carried over the operating face of said head, and means for holding said member taut or firmly in position over the operating face of said head, means for giving a continuous rotatory motion tothe said pad, and means whereby the said pad may be moved by the hand of the operator over the surface of the plate, and the degree of pressure between the inking pad and the plate regulated at the same time.

2; An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of' a printing plate including in combination aninking pad having ahead and an ink-taking and an ink-imparting member detachably carried over the operating' face of said head and means for'hol'dingsaict member taut or firmly in positionover the operatingface" ofsaid head, means for giving a continuous-rotatory motion to the said pad, about its own axis, and means whereby thesaid pad may be moved by the hand of the operator over the surface of the" plate, and the degree of pressure be tween the inking pad and the plate regulated' at the same time.

3. An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing plate including in combination an ink distributingslab, a printing plate located contiguously to said ink distributing slab, an ink applyingpad means for continuously rotating said' ink applying padg and means whereby the rotating ink applying pad may bemoved hyha-ndto'and fro between the ink slab and the printing plate to take ink from the ink slab and apply it to the printing plate while so ro tating.

4t. An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing plate includingin com bination an ink distributingslab, a'printing plate supported contiguous thereto, an ink applying pad, aflexible shaft connected thereto to impart a: rotatory motion thereto, a non rotating hand piece adjacent to said ink pad, and means for rotating saidflexible shaft whereby the rotating ink padmay be moved to and fro between the ink' distributing slab and the surface of the printing plate.

5: An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing plate including incombinationan ink distributing slab, a printing plate located contiguouslyto said ink distributing slab. an ink applying pad; means for rotating said ink applying pad, and means whereby the ink applying pad may be moved to and fro between the ink slab and the printing plate to take ink from the ink slab and apply it to the printing plate While so rotating.

6. An apparatus for applying ink to the surface of a printing plate including in combination an ink distributing slab, a printing plate contiguous thereto, a pad having an ink taking and ink applying surface and rotating about its own axis, rotating means for said pad and connections between said pad and rotating means whereby said pad while rotating may be moved to and fro by the hand of an operator between the ink slab and printing plate to receive a supply of ink from the slab and apply it to the plate and the degree of pressure and loca tion of application of said rotating ink pad upon the plate may be accurately controlled.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE R. CORNWALL.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE ADLER, ARTHUR G. KLINE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

